Telephone fire-alarm system.



.No. 762,391. PATENTED JUNE 14', 1904. W. L. DENIO. TELEPHONE FIRE ALARM SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11, 1903.

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No. 762,391. PATENTED JUNE 14, 1904.

W. L. DENIO. TELEPHONE FIRE ALARM SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

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UNITED STATES Patented June 14, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM L. DENIO, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGN OR OF ONE-HALF TO HOBAR" F. ATKINSON, OF ROCHESTER, NEV YORK.

TELEPHONE FIRE-ALARM SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No 7e2,391, dated June 14, 1904.

Application filed May 11, 1903.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LWVILLIAM L. DENIo,a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe, in the State of New York, have invented an Improved Telephone Fire-Alarm System, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates .to certain improvements in telephone fire-alarm systems, which improvements are fully described and illustrated in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, the novel features thereof being specified in the claims annexed to the said specification.

1n the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front view. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a detail. Fig. 4 is a section on the line at 4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a diagram of the circuit.

My improved fire-alarm apparatus is intended to be used in connection with an ordinary telephone circuit having a battery and a lamp at the central exchange and to operate to send in a signal which indicates the floor of a building on which a fire may have occurred, said signal causing the lamp to flicker or vibrate one or more times to pointout the floor in question. One or more thermostats are placed on each floor of the building to be protected in a circuit or circuits, each communicating with the telephone-circuit and each being provided with my improved firealarm apparatus, which consists, essentially, of an electromagnet arranged to be energized by the closing of the circuit by the thermostat, which magnet unlocks a vibrating pendulum driven by an escapement-wheel and a spring, which spring also actuates a revolving star-pointed contact-wheel, which operates to send in the proper signal indicating the floor on which the thermostat is situated. The revolving contact-wheel is provided with points corresponding in number with the floor on which the apparatus is placed. Thus the contact-wheel of an apparatus located on the fifth floor has five points. The pendulum and escapement prevent the spring from running down too fast, and provision is made for au- SerialN0-156,538. (N0 model.)

tomatically stopping the rotation of the escapement and contact wheels when the signal of, say, five flashes of the central lamp for the fifth story shall have been repeated a suflicient number of times, the spring of course being rewound after each operation of the alarm. Provision is also made for breaking the circuit through the alarm apparatus after the alarm has been sent in, so that there is no interference with the use of the telephone. The alarm may also be sent in by a manually-operated lever or handle. A signal-lamp is also placed in the box to indicate that it is in operative condition.

A is the case of my improved fire-alarm transmitter or signal-box, provided with a 5 suitable cover A, supporting a plate or base of suitable insulating material B, which plate has attached to it the springs O, which press against the case A and prevent any vibration from reaching the releasing mechanism at- 7 tached to the plate B. The frame L is attached to the insulating-base B and supports the electromagnets M M, which operate the releasing mechanism, thereby permitting theescapement-wheel to vibrate the pendulum.

N is an armature or locking-bar, attached to which is the spring O. The core of the magnet M is allowed to project slightly and is rounded to form a point for the armature to swing on. The armature N supports the pivoted lever P, attached to which is the stop Q, which prevents the pendulum-rod J from swinging. frame L.

Theshaft D has attached to it the spring E, 5 which drives the shaft F by means of the gear B and the pinion O,mounted on the shaft F, which also has attached to it the contact-wheel V and the gear I). which through the pinion E on the shaft G drives the escapement-wheel 9 H. The shaft D is squared to fit a key S, by means of which the spring E is wound.

The lever P is pivoted at V and is normally supported in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, resting with the point on the armature N; but when a current passes through the magnets the armature is attracted and drawn out of the path of the lever, which falls The lever P is pivoted to the into the position indicated by the dotted lines, thereby carrying the stop Q below the lower end of the pendulum-rod J, so that the pendulum is free to vibrate. In order to operate the releasing mechanism, a current of electricity is passed through the coils on the magnets M M, which attract the armature N and cause it to swing inward, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 4, thus removing all support from the pivoted lever P, which is then swung downward by the spring R, carrying with it the stop Q and releasing the pendulum-rod J.

The shaft D is squared, so as to lit the key S, by means of which the spring is wound. Attached to the shaft D is the pinion T, mesl ing with the gear U, as shown in Fig. 3. The pinion T is provided with a long tooth adapted to strike a flat spot on the gear U and stop the transmitter when the shaft D has made a predetermined number of revolutions. '.Lhe,number of revolutions made by the shaft D may be regulated, as desired, by changing the position of the gear U, which revolves on a stud 10, Fig. 3, inserted in the plate a. The shaft F has mounted. on it the contact-wheel V, having teeth or projections which make contact with the spring W, supported by the block of insulating material X.

Y is a spring attached to a block of insulating material Z, fastened between the frames a a, which comes in contact with the teeth of the escapement-wheel H, so that its rotation causes the spring to open and close an electric circuit through the incandescent lamp 7), as shown in Fig. 5, so that it flickers or vibrates. This lamp can be arranged in any suitable place in the box, an opening being made through the cover A opposite it. The lamp is used to indicate that the apparatus is in working condition. The lamp is supported in a suitable insulating-block attached to the frame L.

Fastened in the bottom of the case A is a plate of insulating material 0, attached to which are two spring-plates (Z (Z', having projecting arms adapted to make contact with the insulated plate a, so as to close the electric circuit when the thermostats ff act or when the rod 11 is pushed. The thermostat consists of an outer shell or cup f, fitting into which is an inner cup 1', having a projection Z, which presses against the spring d. The spring A presses on the top of the cup 7', which is soldered into the outer case'f, so that if exposed to heat the solder melts and allows the spring 7:: to move the inner cup 7' and the projection Z upward, forcing the spring (Z into contact with the plate 0. 1n wiring the transmitter one wire of the circuit is connected to the spring d and the other to the spring (Z, so that both the springs (Z and (Z must be brought into contact with the plate, a by the thermostats f and f or the rod 1 before the circuit is completed. The manually-operated circuitcloser consists of a rod 27, having a nut n at its upper end and a knob or handle 9 at its lower end. A spring m holds the nut n out of contact with the arms of the plates (Z cl. The end of the rod e' is inclosed in a glass tube 71/, so that it cannot be operated without breaking the tube.

The escapement I is pivoted, so that the pendulum swings freely about as. The pivot at in may consist of a shaft arranged to turn at its ends in the plates 0, a. The spring is attached to the block X by the binding-post The insulating-plate B is supported from the upright part of the case A by one or more screws I), Fig. 2, and is held at a distance therefrom by the bent springs O C, which prevent the accidental transmission of a signal from jar or vibration.

In Fig. 5, 0 0 are the line-wires of a su] scribers telephone 3), the construction and connections of which being old need not be described in detail, to which are attached the wires (1 a, forming the circuit of the alarm apparatus. The wire 0* makes a loop and is connected with the thermostat or thermostats s and the manually-operated circuit-closer t, which may be of any desired construction. When the apparatus is not in operation, no current passes through the wires (1 and 9*. Thus the use of the telephone p is not interfered with. When the apparatus is not in operation, the spring E being fully wound or having run down, the gears T and U stop the signal-box with the spring \/V out of contact with the projections on the wheel V. Thus the current instead of passing from the wire 9" to the spring W and to the wheel V passes through the frames (0 ct to the escapement-wheel H and through the spring Y, the wires q t, and the lamp 1) to the Wire q, as it does when the spring W makes contact with the projections on the wheel V after the apparatus has been set in motion and the local circuit, which has been closed by the action of one of the thermostats 8, broken by the operation of the releasing mechanism. If the circuit through the spring WV or the local circuit through the magnets M M were closed, the lamp 5 and the lamp L in the central exchange would be lighted, preventing the transmission of signals either from the telephone 19 or the signal-box, besides rendering the use of the telephone impossible.

U is a local circuit formed by the wires u and 7', which are connected by the thermostats s and the manually-operated circuit-closer t. The wire w connects with one end of the coils on the magnets M M, the other end of which coils is connected to the frame L through the wire p. The wire q connects with the spring Y through the wires q t and the incandescent lamp 5. The spring Y makes contact with the teeth of the escapement-wheel H. The movement of the escapement-wheel H when the transmitter is in operation causes the spring Y to make and break the circuit with great rapidity.

, through the magnets.

When one of the thermostats s or the manually-operated circuit-closer 25 acts, it allows a current of electricity coming from the central exchange over the line-wire o to pass'to the wire a and through the thermostat to the wire a, to the magnets M M, through the wire 3) to the stop Q, and from the stop Q to the escapement-wheel H through the escapement I and the pendulum-rod J. From the escapement-wheel H the current passes through the frames a a to the spring Y and through the wire 9 to the lamp 7) through the wire 6, which is connected to the bindingpost H, to the line-wire 0 through the wire 9. When one of the thermostats closes the circuit, allowing the current to pass through the magnets M M, the magnets attract armature N, causing it to swing, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4:, allowing the pivoted lever P, attached to which is the stop Q, to move downward and allow the pendulum to swing. At the same time it breaks the local circuit The transmitter having been set in motion and the local circuit broken by the movement of the pivoted lever P, the current passes from the line-wire 0 to the spring through the wires 0* and 1". The wheel V is provided with a number of projections, which come in contact with the spring W, so that the current passes through the wheel V and the frames 0, a to the escapement-wheel H and through the spring Y, which is in contact with the teeth of the escapement, opening and closing the circuit and causing the lamp L in the central station and the lamp Z) to flicker.

The thermostats f f and the manual circuit-closer 21 may be attached to the case A and perform the same action as the thermostats s and the circuit-closer 2..

In a building equipped with my improved fire-alarm signal system a separate signal-box and local circuit may be provided for each floor, said signal-boxes having different numbers of contact-points on the wheel V, so as to indicate which signal-box acts.

The wire 9* has a branch 1", which connects with the binding-post F in the signal-box, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. From the bindingpost F the wire leads to the binding-post (Jr, making connection with the spring W by means of the wire 71 From the binding-post G the wire 1" leads to the spring-plate (Z. From the spring-plate (Z a wire m leadsto the binding-post N, which connects with the coils of the magnets M M by means of the wire 5. The coils of the magnets are connected to the frame L through the wire 1). The wire at is connected to the binding-post N.

The binding-post 1 which is in contact with the spring Y, is connected with one terminal of the lamp 5 by means of the wire q. From the other terminal of the lamp Z) a wire t leads to the binding-post H, to which is connected the wire 5 When one of the thermostats s, which may be of any desired construction, acts, it allows a current of electricity from a battery 0 in the central exchange to pass through the linewire a and the wire 0' through the thermostats s, the wires a and s, to the magnets M l\ and to the frame L through the wire 7). The current then passes from the lever P, which is pivoted on the frame L, and the stop Q to the.

pendulum-rod J, which is in contact with the stop Q, through the pendulum-rod to the escapement I and the escapement-wheel H, which is in contact with the spring Y. From the binding-post 7 on the spring Y the current passes to the lamp 6th rough the wire (1. From the lamp 5 the current passes to the bindingpost H, which is connected to the line-wire 0 through the wire t. The wire (1 is connected to the line-wire 0. The current passes through the wire 9 and the line-wi-rc 0 to the signallamp L and the battery O. The circuit having been closed through the magnets M M, the armature is attracted by them and moved so as to allow the pivoted lever P, attached to which is the stop Q, to move downward and allow the pendulum to swing. At the same time it breaks the circuit through the magnets,

cutting out the local circuit containing the thermostats. The apparatus having been set in motion and the local circuit broken by the movement of the lever P, the current passes from the battery 0 through the line-wire 0 and the wires 9' 0" and 71. to the spring Kwhich makes contact with the points on the wheel V when it revolves. The current passes from the wheel V to theescapement-wheel H through the frames at c. The spring Ymakes contact with the teeth of the escapement-wheel H, so that when the wheel H revolves it opens and closes the circuit with great rapidity, causing the signal-lamps L and b to flicker or vibrate. From the spring Y the current passes through the wire q to the lamp 7), which is connected to the binding-post H, to which is attached the wire 9, connected to the linewire 0, which forms one terminal of the signallamp L.

It will be seen that the effect of my improved fire-alarm transmitter is to cause the signallamp in the central exchange to flicker or vibrate instead of the steady light given by a telephone call and that the number of times the lamp is flashed may be changed by using a different number of points on the contactwheel. Thus several signal-boxes may be provided with different numbers of contactpoints, so as to indicate which signal-box acts. At the central exchange telephone connections are indicated by switchboard springjacks 1 2.

In my Patent No. 728,161, May 12, 1903, is shown an electric means for making and breaking the signal-circuit in such manner as to cause the exchange signal-lamp to flicker, and this is not claimed herein, the present invention including a plurality of circuit-making wheels and cooperating springs acting coincidently on the signal-circuit, as set forth.

I claim 1. The combination of a telephone-circuit, a source of current at the central station, a lirealarm circuit connected to the telephone-circuit in multiple with a subscribefis telephone, a fire-alarm apparatus in the alarm-circuit, a number-wheel V in the alarm-circuit, connected to one side of the telephone-circuit, an escapement wheel with numerous teeth through which the connection passes, and a contact-spring cooperating therewith, contact-spring W cooperating with wheel V and connected to the other side of the telephonecircuit, and one or more signal-receiving dcviccs in the lire-alarm circuit, which includes said contact-spring.

2. The combination of a telephone-circuit, a source of continuous current at the central station, and connected directly to the telephonecircuit, a fire-alarm circuit connected to the telephone-circuit in multiple with a subscribers telephone, a lire-alarm apparatus in the alarm-circuit, anumber-whecl V in the alarmcircuit, connected to one side of the telephonecircuit, an escapement-wheel With numerous teeth through which the connection passes, and a contact-springcooperating therewith, spring V cooperating with wheel V and connected to the other side of the telephone-circuit, and one or more signal-lamps in the irealarm circuit, which includes said contactspring.

3. The combination of atclephonccircuit, a source of current at the telephone-exchange, a signal-lamp at the exchange, a subscribers telephone, a lire-alarm transmitter normally connected to the telephone-circuit, a local lirealarm circuit, thermostatic circuit-closers for said circuit, said transmitter comprising a contact device W connected to the telephone-line, a number-wheel V cooperating with said contact device W, wheel H electrically connected with wheel V, and having a large number of teeth, a spring making contact therewith, said spring and said contact device WV being connected to opposite sides of the same telephone and alarm circuits, and a signal-lamp in circuit With both wheels and both springs.-

4. The combination of a telephone-circuit, a source of current at an exchange, a continuous-current signal-lamp at said exchange, a

lire-alarm transmitter normally connected to the telephone-circuit, a fire-alarm circuit, thermostatic circuit-closers for said circuit, said transmitter comprising a contact device V connected to the fire-alarm and telephone circuits, a number-wheel Vthe teeth of which correspond to the station-number, an escapementwheel H With numerous teeth electrically connected with said number-wheel V, a spring making and breaking contact with said escapement-wheel H, said spring being also connected to the telephone-circuit, and a signallamp in the alarm-circuit.

5. The combination of a telephone-circuit, an alarm-transmitter, a local alarm-circuit, thermostats for the alarm-circuit, a magnet in the alarm-circuit, an escapement included in the local alarm-circuit but breaking circuit when the magnet operates, the escapementwheel and its contact-spring, the numberwheel and its contact-spring, the springs being connected to opposite sides of the telephone-circuit and in series with each other, and a signal-lamp in the circuit.

6. 1n alarm apparatus, a wheel V, a spring cooperating therewith to give a comparatively short series of makes and breaks in the circuit, a second wheel in the same train and electrically connected with the first wheel and having a larger number of make and break devices, and a spring which cooperates with said second wheel to make and break the alarm-circuit several times each time said spring \/V is in contact with a tooth of said first wheel V.

WILLIAM L. DEN IO.

\Vitnesses:

SAYRE SELDEN, GEO. B. SELDEN. 

